Club and casino money and exchange system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a club and casino money and exchange system to transfer a plurality of a user&#39;s casino or club rewards points and promotional winnings. The system includes a kiosk or a first computer with a magnetic card reader affiliated with the user&#39;s casino or club, an admin software application that is utilized by the kiosk or the computer to control, operate and monitor the system and a second computer to control, monitor and distribute the rewards points and promotional winnings. The system also includes a prepaid card owned by the user and a user membership card that is swiped into the magnetic card reader or entered into the kiosk that is in communication with the system. There are also two corresponding methods of using the system.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/506,124 filed on Jul. 10, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

For many years, members of rewards programs in the club and casino industry (and many other industries) have been limited as to how they can spend their rewards points. For example, in the Australian club and casino industry, members rewards points that have been accrued by utilizing the bar, bistro and gaming machines have only been able to spend their membership points in one of three ways; internally at the club or casino, with a shopping voucher (e.g. a Westfield gift card, Coles or Woolworths grocery voucher) or with a participating retail outlet near the club or the casino.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

What is really needed is a club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use that can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid electronic funds transfer at point of sale or EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a card swipe portion of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a keypad portion of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2D illustrates a language selection listing from a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2E illustrates a keypad portion of a language selection portion from a pair of a kiosk screen of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2F illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a pair of kiosk screens of a club and casino money and exchange system in a chosen language, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a log-in screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a member's search screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C illustrates a member's search home page screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3D illustrates a member's detail's page screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3E illustrates a promotions screen to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase in one embodiment is utilized repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms comprising, having and including are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system overview of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The system 100 includes a kiosk 110, a first computer 120, a second computer 130, an admin software application 140, a Visa or eftpos card or any other type of prepaid card 150, a communications network 160 and a user's membership card 170. The kiosk 110 can be any suitable kiosk associated with a club or casino. The first computer 120 includes a magnetic card reader 122 affiliated with the user's casino or club with a database 124. The second computer 130 is a third party computer to control rewards points associated with the system 100. The admin software application 140 is utilized by the kiosk 110 and the first computer 120 to control, operate and monitor the system 100. The prepaid card 150 is owned by the user affiliated with the user's casino or club and so is the membership card that is swiped into the magnetic card reader 122 or entered into the kiosk 110 that is in communication with the system 100. Both the prepaid card and the membership card are linked so that inside the club or casino the kiosk application can recognize when a member swipes their membership card that it is requesting to transfer points to the prepaid card. The communications network 160 is typically the Internet 162 or a club network 164 within the casino or club. The user's membership card 170 is swiped into the magnetic card reader 122 or entered into the kiosk 110 that is in communication with the system 100 through the communications network 160.

FIG. 2A illustrates a card swipe portion of a kiosk screen 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The kiosk screen 210 includes a card swipe portion 212 to allow a user to swipe their membership card 150. If the user's membership card 150 is valid, the user is prompted with a PIN number 214. The admin software application 140 transfers the casino rewards points and promotional winnings to the VISA or eftpos or any type of prepaid card 150. The prepaid card 150 receives the transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when the user swipes the club or casino membership card at the kiosk 110 or the first computer 120. The received casino rewards points and promotional winnings can be converted into cash at the kiosk 110 or the first computer 120.

FIG. 2B illustrates a keypad portion of a kiosk screen 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The kiosk screen 210 includes a keypad 220, a greeting and an instruction 222 and an entry field 224. The keypad 220 includes standard numbers 0 to 9 buttons 221 and a clear and OK button 223 to enter the given PIN number 214. The PIN number 214 is entered into the entry field 224 by the user with the keypad 220.

FIG. 2C illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a kiosk screen 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The kiosk screen 210 includes a similar keypad 220, a current available amount 230, a request to enter an amount to be transferred 232, a minimum amount that can be transferred 234 and a maximum amount that can be transferred 236. The keypad 220 is similar to the previous figures and includes standard numbers 0 to 9 buttons 221 and a clear and OK button 223 to enter the given PIN number 214. The amount of money to be transferred 238 is entered into the entry field 224 by the user with the keypad 220. If the PIN Number 214 is entered correctly, user is directed to the kiosk screen 210, where the user can enter the amount to be transferred 236. On successful completion a receipt is printed and a point balance update is initiated instantly via interfacing with the system 100 back-end.

FIG. 2D illustrates a language selection listing from a kiosk screen 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The language 240 is selected from the group of English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese or Korean and can also be any suitable language as well. The user simply selects the language 240 they would like to use and the system 100 will translate all of the elements of the system 100 into that language.

FIG. 2E illustrates a keypad portion of a language selection portion from a pair of kiosk screens 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pair of kiosk screens 210 is similar to the illustrations and information in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, but is in Chinese.

FIG. 2F illustrates a keypad portion to transfer funds from a pair of kiosk screens 210 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100 in a chosen language, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The pair of kiosk screens 210 is similar to the illustrations and information in FIG. 2C and is in Chinese. There is an additional field to provide a decimal point placement clarification field 242, a confirmation button 246 and a back to main menu field 244 and a return to the kiosk screen 110 to return the user to FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A illustrates a log-in screen 310 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program 300 of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The log-in screen 310 includes a user entering a user name entry field 312, a password entry field 314, a remember me field 316 and a sign-in button 318. All information for the log-in screen 310 can be entered by a standard keypad (FIG. 2C, 220).

FIG. 3B illustrates a member's search screen 320 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member's search screen 320 includes a club pull-down menu 321, a member's ID 322, a first name 323, a last name 324, a date joined 325, a search button 326, a clear button 327 and a new member button 328. The club or casino members membership card should also be swiped before entering the previously described information.

FIG. 3C illustrates a member's search home page screen 330 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member's search home page screen 330 simply shows the results of the data entered and processed by the system 100 entered on the member's search screen 320 in FIG. 3B. The search home page screen 330 include one or more member's ID numbers 332, one or more titles 334, one or more names 336 and one or more dates joined 338. All of the previous information described and illustrated in FIG. 3B and the member's search screen 320.

FIG. 3D illustrates a member's detail's page screen 340 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The member's detail's page screen 340 includes an optional photo 341, a member ID number 342, a title 343, a plurality of points 344, a first name 345, a middle name 346, a last name 347, a kiosk PIN 348, a date of birth 349, a gender 350, a save button 351, a clear button 352, a pair of information buttons indicating if a EFTPOS card 353 or a credit card 354 is used, an account name 355, a card number 356, an account number 357, a BSB number 358, an expiration date 359, a card status 360, a save button 361, a activate button 362, a clear button 363, a back button 364, a print button 365, a date joined 366, a date created 367 and a date modified 368.

FIG. 3E illustrates a promotions screen 370 to utilize a loyalty and rewards program portion of a club and casino money and exchange system 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The promotions screen 370 includes a club pull-down menu 371, a category pull-down menu 372, a subcategory pull-down menu 373, a promotion name 374, a promotion code 375, a promotion date 376, a total of promotional payments 377 and a total of promotional prizes 378.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrates a flowchart of a method 400 for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The method 400 steps include a member swiping a membership card at the kiosk or the computer 410, the member entering a kiosk PIN or a computer PIN 420, a membership points balance being displayed on the kiosk or the computer 430, the member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from the membership points balance and a request to deduct the points from a gaming points system that is sent 440, the points and the gaming points system deducts the points from the membership card 450, the gaming points system automatically transmits the request into an Australian Banking Association file 460 and a finance department logs into the system and downloads the ABA file from an exterior computer in communication the member Internet banking account 470.

The step of swiping a membership card at the kiosk or the computer 410 can be done at any member kiosk or computer. The step of the member entering a kiosk PIN or a computer PIN 420 can be done where the PINs are created when the member signs-up. The step of a membership point balance being displayed on the kiosk or the computer 430 can be done at any available kiosk or suitable computer as previously described. The step of a member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from the membership point balance and a request to deduct the points from a gaming points system that is sent 440 can be done at any available kiosk or suitable computer as previously described. The step of the points and the gaming points system deducts the points from the membership card 450 is performed by the system and any an admin software application. The step of the gaming points system automatically transmits the request into an Australian Banking Association file 460 can be done for any banking association file. The step of a finance department logs into the system and downloads the ABA file from an exterior computer in communication the member Internet banking account 470 can be done for any banking association file.

The system and its software application transfers the casino rewards points and promotional winnings to the prepaid card. The prepaid card receives the transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when the user swipes the membership card at the kiosk or the computer. The received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at the kiosk or the computer. The received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by the eftpos or VISA or any prepaid card to purchase goods and services. The application transfers the casino rewards points and promotional winnings to the prepaid card. The prepaid card receives the transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when the user swipes the membership card at the kiosk or the computer. The transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at the kiosk or the computer. The transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by the prepaid card to purchase goods and services. The software application language is selected from the group of English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese or Korean. The prepaid card is a major credit card selected from the group consisting of a Visa card, a MasterCard, a China Union Pay Card, an American Express card or an EFTPOS card. The software application can transfer the casino rewards points and promotional winnings from the membership card to the prepaid card.

The club and casino money and exchange system and methods of use can transfer reward points and promotional wins to a prepaid electronic funds transfer at point of sale or EFTPOS or a VISA card, or to any type of prepaid card by visiting a kiosk in the club or casino or swiping their card in a promotion that links a membership card to a user's prepaid card and performs a transfer of reward points into cash spent via a kiosk and software provided by the system that can also load membership points back onto a membership card for internal spending.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. 

1. A club and casino money and exchange system to transfer a plurality of a user's casino or club rewards points and promotional winnings, comprising: a kiosk or a first computer with a magnetic card reader affiliated with said user's casino or club; an admin software application that is utilized by said kiosk or said computer to control, operate and monitor said system; a second computer to control, monitor and distribute said rewards points and promotional winnings; a membership card owned by said user affiliated with said user's casino or club that is swiped into said magnetic card reader or entered into said kiosk that is in communication with said system; and a user prepaid card.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said software application transfers said casino rewards points and promotional winnings to said eftpos or VISA or any type of prepaid card.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said prepaid card receives said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when said user swipes said members club or casino membership card at said kiosk or said computer.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at said kiosk or said computer.
 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said received casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by said eftpos, visa or any type of prepaid card to purchase goods and services.
 6. The system according to claim 1, wherein software application transfers said casino rewards points and promotional winnings to said prepaid card.
 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said prepaid card receives said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings when said user swipes said linked membership card at said kiosk or said computer.
 8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are converted into cash at said kiosk or said computer.
 9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said transferred casino rewards points and promotional winnings are utilized by said prepaid card to purchase goods and services.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said software application language is selected from the group of English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese or Korean.
 11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said prepaid card is a major prepaid, debit or credit card selected from the group consisting of a Visa card, China Union Pay Card, a MasterCard or an American Express card.
 12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said prepaid card is an EFTPOS card.
 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said software application can transfer said casino rewards points and promotional winnings from said membership card to said prepaid card.
 14. A method for transferring a plurality of casino rewards points and promotional winnings at a kiosk or a computer with a card swipe reader, comprising: a member swiping a membership card at said kiosk or said computer; said member entering a kiosk PIN or a computer PIN; a membership points balance is displayed on said kiosk or said computer; said member enters a quantity amount of a plurality of membership points from said membership points balance and a request to deduct said points from a gaming points system is sent; said points and said gaming points system deducts said points from said membership card; said gaming points system automatically transmits said request into an Australian Banking Association file; and a finance department logs into said system and downloads said ABA file from an exterior computer in communication said member Internet banking account.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said gaming points system automatically transmits said request into any banking association file.
 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said PINs are created when said member signs-up.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said prepaid cards are paid from said club or casino Internet banking account on a next business day.
 18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said points and said gaming points system deducts said points from an admin software application.
 19. A method for linking a membership card to a prepaid bank card, comprising: a member has decides to join a rewards program; said member consults with a staff member with a computer that has a card swipe reader; said members membership card is swiped and said member's profile is retrieved; and said members bank card is swiped and data from said bank card that includes an account number is stored in said computer.
 20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said membership card and said member's profile and said bank card and said data are saved on said computer together. 